President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cuts the ceremonial ribbon to open the exhibit for the 28th anniversary of the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCIERD-DOST) March 17, 2010 at the Hyatt Hotel in Manila. Assisting her are DOST Secretary Estrella Albastro (right) and Undersecretary Graciano Yumul, Jr. (left). In her keynote speech later in the program, Pres. Arroyo hoped the next administration will continue to support the science sector by allocating more funds for research and development (R&D) and human resource development. During her term, Arroyo infused P5 billion for R&D, including P1 billion for the National Science Complex in UP Diliman and 100,000 scholarship slots for science and engineering. Arroyo congratulated PCIERD-DOST for its various projects that advance science and technology, the two important factors that will propel the country’s growth, she said. (S&T Media Service)

The Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD) awarded the winners of the 8th Regional S&T Fora and Competitions for the NCR, Luzon and Visayas–Mindanao (Vis-Min) Cluster last February 24, 25 & 26 respectively at the FNRI Training Room, Science Community Complex, Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City .

agging the first prize for the National Capital Region cluster is Maria Gracia Peralta from the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) with her study entitled “Non-Cyanide Electroplating Technology.” The gold plating technology’s winning feature is its non-use of cyanide, an environmentally unsafe compound.  Placing second and third respectively are Shalom Brian Mercader of the College of Engineering, UP-Diliman for the study entitled “The Design and Evaluation of an Ozone Contractor-Reactor for Color and Organic Matter Removal in Distillery Wastewater” and Dr. Susan M. Gallardo of Asian Regional Research Programme on Environmental Technology, De La Salle University for her paper on the “Development of Windrow Composting as an Alternative Sludge Management for a recycled Paper Mill in the Philippines.”

Meanwhile, the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) ruled the Luzon Cluster competition with the FPRDI’s research “Development and Commercialization of Locally Designed Moisture Meter.” The study determines the amount of moisture found in wood to check the material’s suitability  for furniture making. The second prize was awarded to  Prima Fe R. Franco of the Mariano Marcos State University for the study entitled “First and Second Generation Bioethanol Production from Sweet Sorghum Using Locally Isolated Micro-organisms.”  Engr. Belen Bisana, also of the FPRDI, got the third prize for the study “Bamboo Veneer Lathe Technology Innovation for Commercialization.”